March 22, 2025 
Show jumping is the only Olympic sport where men and women compete head to head, but the battle of the sexes became even fiercer on Saturday afternoon at Saut Hermès in Paris, France.
Spoiler alert, the ladies came out on top in Le Saut Hermès 1.55m thanks to a formidable young French woman and new Hermès partnered rider, 24-year-old Jeanne Sadran.
Here’s the breakdown; the class took place over two rounds, comprised of the top 10 men and top 10 women qualified after Friday’s Prix Hermès Sellier. Both rounds are against the clock without a jump-off. The final score is determined by the cumulative scores from the two rounds and the time of the second round.
With €105,500 on the line, and of course, bragging rights, the world’s best were especially eager to trot into the arena for this year’s famous return to the original venue, the Grand Palais des Champs-Élysée.
Yet, this original venue poses some particular challenges. The stunning, vaulted skylight casts shadows across the course, causing the more skeptical horses to take a second look at the ground beneath them or the jump in front of them. Naturally, it’s also an indoor, and some horses have already begun stretching their legs and jumping outdoors. With it came quite some wiggly lines and unlucky faults from careful horses.
However, none of these difficulties proved insurmountable to Sadran and the 12-year-old Selle Français stallion Dexter De Kerglenn. They’re a tried and true pair, notably having won the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of Paris in 2024 and the FEI Nations Cup of Deauville in 2023. Perhaps it’s the home crowd that gives her an extra push.
Or, an extra centimeter of air, because Sadran and Dexter were the only combination who completed both rounds without a single fault. It was to the delight of her coach, Simon Delestre (FRA) who stood by the in-gate with bated breath for her full 47.22 seconds course around. It’s another good result in the pocket for their stable, after Delestre himself arrived in Paris hot off his first Rolex Grand Prix win in s-Hertogenbosch.
“I’m so happy with Dexter, he is a great horse. He’s courageous, he has all the qualities you could dream of in a horse. I think I’ve adapted to him really well,” said Sadran.
A perhaps frustrating second place went to Martin Fuchs (SUI), who was the irons of 12-year-old Commissar Pezi. The pair finished faster with 45.33, but it cost them a rail. Bringing up the rear of the victory gallop was Gregory Wathelet with his 14-year-old Selle Français stallion Bond Jamesbond De Hay with 46.32 seconds.
Of course, it was an emotional finish for Sadran, who took her first victory as a Hermés partnered rider, and one of only three present in Paris this week.
“I just started my partnership with Hermès, it’s so new, so I think it was the best gift I could give them,” said Sadran.
The marketing execs at Hermès agree.
